Hum Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 A man with an inherited form of blindness has been able to identify letters and a clock face using a pioneering implant, researchers say. Miikka Terho, 46, from Finland, was fitted with an experimental chip behind his retina in Germany. Success was also reported in other patients. The chip allows a patient to detect objects with their eyes, unlike a rival approach that uses an external camera. Details of the work are in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 11 people were implanted. It was only when the chip was placed further behind the retina, in the central macular area in three people, that they achieved the best results. RP leads to the progressive degeneration of cells in the eye's retina, resulting in night blindness, tunnel vision and then usually permanent blindness. The symptoms can begin from early childhood. The best results were achieved with Mr Terho, who was able to recognise cutlery and a mug on a table, a clock face and discern seven different shades of grey. He was also able to move around a room independently and approach people. The chip works by converting light that enters the eye into electrical impulses which are fed into the optic nerve behind the eye. It is externally powered and in the initial study was connected to a cable which protruded from the skin behind the ear to connect with a battery. full story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted November 5, 2010 Member Share Posted November 5, 2010 Now that is way cool. Geordi La Forge, here we come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raa Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Awesome! Loving science and medicine! (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YounGMessiah Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Awesome engineering! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 I always hope for cloning/growing replacement body parts. ;) But I imagine a human eye would be a tricky operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangm Supervisor Posted November 5, 2010 Supervisor Share Posted November 5, 2010 I personally prefer the genetic approach. Busskamp et al. (2010) Genetic Reactivation of Cone Photoreceptors Restores Visual Responses in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Science (314). It was a pretty good paper published in spring. Instead of using a clunky machine to generate electrical impulses in response to light, the Science paper method introduced a gene encoding a light-activated chloride pump to photoreceptor cells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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